* Ladies and gentlemen，welcome to the seminar. First，let me give you a brief introduction of our Master Ching Hai. Master Ching Hai was born into an Aulacese (Vietnamese) family. When she was a little girl，she always followed her parents，who truly believed in God and Jesus Christ，to church on Sundays.
 
 
During the weekdays，she spent most of her after school hours with her grandmother，who was a faithful Buddhist，studying all the Buddha's sutras. Because of this special family background，Master Ching Hai has accepted both Catholic and Buddhist teachings since her childhood. Concerning Master's biography，please refer to the free booklet you have in your hand.
 
 
I personally have been looking for the answers of life since I was a very little boy. I have tried from Buddhism to Christianity，but I had never been satisfied until I met Master Ching Hai. She gave me the answers and woke me up. Thank you，Master. I believe pretty soon there are people who are sitting in this room tonight who will have the same feeling as mine. Now，let's again welcome our Supreme Master Ching Hai.
 
 
 
Thank you. Thank you，my friends，brothers and sisters，fathers，mothers. He came from Boston. He was initiated about last year，(*Yes.) last year in Formosa (Taiwan). Yes. They came from Boston to welcome us. So，may I also welcome you？Today，I saw that all of you came back from holidays. Is that not so？You came back from vacation？Had a nice vacation？Yes？
 
 
The best vacation we will have when we leave this world - I mean，go back to the Kingdom of Heaven. But for this，we must prepare today. It is like before we go on a big vacation or small vacation，we must prepare our luggage，our checkbook，our gasoline，our clothing and the comforts we need on the road and at the vacation site. So we must prepare today for the final day of our journey. How to prepare this day，most of us do not know. We only know how to prepare for old age，for sickness，life insurance，but nobody prepares for death insurance，and the death insurance is the most necessary insurance that we should remember.
 
 
When a woman is giving birth to a child，so many people rush to assist her; or when we get married，a lot of people come and congratulate us and help us prepare the joyful event. So，in any circumstances we have assistance and helpers，except when we… what？Depart from this world. No one ever can assist us except the angel of death. Now，people will tell me， 『No，no，no. When I die，the Buddha will come to me and bless me，take me to the Buddha Land，because I am a Buddhist，』and the Christians will tell me，『No，when I die，Jesus will come as my Savior and take me back to the Kingdom of God.』
 
 
But we forget… forget what the Buddha said about liberation，about going back to the Buddha Land，and we forget about what Jesus said，how we can go back to the Kingdom of God. What I am saying now to you is nothing new: it is all stated in the Bible and in the Buddhist scriptures. I only refer to them in order to emphasize that we must follow those advice in order to truly enter into the Buddha Land or the Kingdom of God.
 
 
Now，the Buddha said if someone doesn't meet a Buddha，then he has to run around in the circle of birth and death again and again: he may be born as devas - means heavenly beings; he may be born as human being; he may be born in hell or in the animal kingdom，but not in the Buddha Land. And what does it mean by 『Buddha Land』？The land of the ultimate bliss，of the highest happiness，or Nirvana，we call that.
 
 
Now，what is the Buddha？Everybody knows the Buddha，but the real meaning of the Buddha most people do not take care to consider. 『Buddha，』I say again and again，is the Sanskrit term for an 『enlightened master，』and that's all there is to it，to a Buddha. Whenever you meet an enlightened master so you meet a Buddha; the same with the word 『Christ』in the Hebrew language - means an 『enlightened saint，』a 『messiah，』a 『savior，』one who can lead us to liberation，can bring us back to the Kingdom of God.
 
 
So the Buddha said，if you haven't met such a master or such a Buddha，then your chance of becoming totally liberated，totally knowing the Truth，the true world - the invisible，true world，the highest world - your chance to know them is very，very thin; almost nothing，no chance. You will be born in Heaven，hell，world，and that's it - running around，around in the world of eighty-four thousand -means eighty-four thousand kinds of beings - but never becoming a Buddha; means never becoming an enlightened - truly，completely enlightened - perfect saint.
 
 
So，that's what the Buddha meant. Now we come to Christ. We forgot what Christ said if we want to go back into the Kingdom of God. Now，Christ said what？『No one can come to the Father except through me.』Now，what does it mean 『me』？ 『Me』means the Son of God，means the one who knows God completely，the one who recognizes God within him，the one who has discovered the Kingdom within his heart，because，『Lo and behold the Kingdom is within you.』
 
 
No one said the Kingdom is outside. Everyone says Buddha is in your heart，everyone says the Kingdom is at hand，within you. Now，it's not only Buddhist and Christian Bibles that say so. All other scriptures say the same. I must even take more time to study the Sikh scriptures，and I must say to you the Sikh scriptures are so complete. The book is called 『Adi Granth.』Inside，there are all kinds of sayings of the great ancient masters from all over the world，and they all praised the inner power of God，they all praised the inner Light，the inner Vibration，the Sound of the universe，the unstruck…
 
 
Guru Nanak said the 『unstruck Music.』He said，『Thy unstruck Music nourishes me，makes me wise，makes me become humble，』and he knew that. He knew God through this unstruck Music. Guru Nanak is the founder of the Sikh religion，and he said many things similar to Jesus，to Buddha，in praising of this inner Vibration which is the 『Word』in the Bible，which is the Quan Yin，『Quán Âm，』the 『Sound Stream』in Buddhism.
 
 
Andin all other religious scriptures，I have found mention about this inner Sound which liberates and nourishes all beings and brings all beings back to God when the time comes. Now Jesus said，『No one can come to my Father except through me.』He didn't mean that big ego 『I，』proud，ignorant 『I.』 He meant that 『me』who is the real one，the one who is awakened，the inner man，the radiant one，the wise one，the one who knows everything，who owns everything，who can make everything，who can accomplish everything without doing anything. 
 
 
Just like Lao Tzu said， 『doing but not doing，』 『wei wu wei.』What is it when we come to the state of 『doing and not doing？』It is we lose the ego; that is the egoless state of attainment，when 『I and my Father are one.』It is the same like 『doing and not doing』; or like the Buddha said， 『Giving charity without knowing that you are giving charity』- that is the real charity. Or like Jesus said，when you give someone by the left hand，don't let your right hand know about it.
 
 
That is all the same meaning，by egoless state of enlightenment. So when Jesus said， 『No one can come to the Father except through me，』he meant the enlightened one， 『Me，』because Jesus at that time，he was enlightened. And if we follow him，that enlightened Jesus，then we would go back to the Father. That's exactly what he meant.
 
 
But when Jesus has left this world，then we must follow another one who is on Earth，another enlightened master，be he Hindu，be he from India，from America or from whatever country. I think Americans have a great enlightened master in recent time: Emerson. What did Emerson say that is so strikingly similar to the egoless state？He said，『A great burden falls away from our shoulder if we let God rule the universe』- if we let God rule the universe.
 
 
And now，what happens to us？- we are ruling the whole universe. We take care of everything with our little limited intelligence and very，very weak physical power. So we are exhausted，tired and muddled in our head because we don't let God rule the universe; we rule it and we rule God as well. We tell Hirm what to do. Every day we tell Hirm， 『Please God，help me. You must make my son pass the exam，』 『Please take good care of my daughter，that she will get a good marriage，』 『My business is not running well，please runs faster.』
 
 
So every day we dictate to God what to do. So，we get nothing from that，then we get angry and frustrated，and sometimes we go out of our religion，thinking God doesn't hear us. Or we may think we are just a kind of superstitious person，we think religions are no good. It is because we see no proof from religious devotion.
 
 
But those who are faithful in any religions find some solution，find some existing power from God，however little that might be. So we heard a lot about the saints. So，like in this city，San Francisco，San Jose，Santa Clara，yes. All these are the past，great masters，but they are in Spanish name. Yes？San Francisco，it is Saint Francis，is that right？ 『Saint Francis』in Spanish becomes 『San Francisco，』and that's all there is to it. It's the same one，the same famous Saint Francis.
 
 
Now，what made him become a saint？Maybe he had a very good，enlightened master to guide him. Then he became a very great saint. If he practiced himself，and really devoted，maybe he'd also become a saint of a lesser degree. He may become compassionate and become very humble and become very…somehow very，very devoted to God. But a real saint，a highest order saint，he is like the Buddha，he is like Guru Nanak，he is like Jesus Christ. They are the saints of the highest order.
 
 
How do we know that？We know from the examples of their lives，we know how they save sentient beings，we know how they liberate others from the bondage of birth and death，of suffering and misery. The Buddha can be anywhere at the same time. Jesus can be anywhere also at the same time.
 
 
He has the power of healing the suffering of others at an instant; and the same with Guru Nanak of the Sikh religion，or the same with Krishna of Hinduism，and the same with other saints in the past. I cannot tell you because the saints from the past are numerous and you cannot count. But some saints are higher and some saints are less in degree.
 
 
Now，『By thy fruits shall thou be known.』So we can judge a saint from his power and from his deeds. Doesn't mean a saint has to be famous to become a greater saint - no，not necessary. Mostly when a saint is alive，he is not so famous and he's persecuted by many jealous people，like Jesus，like Guru Nanak or the tenth guru of the Sikhs，Guru Gobind Singh. Gobind Singh，he was chased from one place to another for what he had done，because he helped people. He preached Truth to people，and they worshipped him because they got the experience. They knew what he said was true，they knew what he said were the real things，they knew he did not cheat them.
 
 
They got the proof of enlightenment from Guru Gobind Singh or Guru Nanak or Krishna，or whomever when they were alive，therefore，they believed him. They believed Jesus because Jesus gave them proof; they believed Buddha because Buddha gave them proof immediately of enlightenment.
 
 
So people worshipped them. The more the disciples worshipped them，the more other people got jealous，so they gave them trouble. Therefore，when a master was alive，it's not necessarily that the master's life was very smooth and easy and that everybody came to their feet and worshipped them; maybe some，maybe some not.
 
 
On the contrary，in the ancient times，the master's life was very，very hard to preserve; very difficult to be a master openly. Now，we go back to the 『me』of Jesus，why he said that everyone had to follow him，otherwise，they go to the lower sphere of creation，like hell: it is because if you don't have an enlightened master，it is difficult for you alone to swim across the sea of existence onto the other shore of free land，of liberation.  
 
 
That is the meaning of that. It is like we could also learn to swim ourselves，but it is dangerous. It's better to learn with an expert who can swim，who knows，and also he can swim across that river many times: he knows where is the whirlpool，where are some dangerous waters，where it's so deep and so and so… where are rocks underneath so he can take you very easily. Like a captain of a ship who is sailing across a big water many times，he knows.
 
 
And most of the Christian people believe that Jesus was the only one. The same with most of the Buddhist people: they believe that Shakyamuni Buddha is the one and only Buddha in the world and ever born or yet to come for many thousands of years. Now，we forget what the Buddha said.
 
 
I told you yesterday he said: I've already become Buddha and you will become Buddha. Everyone can become Buddha in one lifetime. And Jesus also said all beings are children of God，『what I can do you can also do，even greater and better than I do.』That was what Jesus said. 
 
 
He didn't say， 『I do better than you and you can never do it.』So we forget that and we look down upon ourselves. We forgot that we have the Kingdom within. Now，if the Kingdom is within us，as the Bible states，why don't we look within and find where it is，or ask someone who has found it within？
 
 
It's so simple as that. And now，if the Buddha said， 『Buddha Nature is within you，』and everyone possesses this Buddha Nature，then why don't we also look within and see where our Buddha is，instead of going to the temple and bow to the wooden image？Only after we know where our Buddha Nature is，then we can worship Buddha more.
 
 
We can worship Shakyamuni even more fervently - I mean，more faithfully，more sincerely and more vigorously - and only when，after we've seen Jesus or we've seen the Christ within us，we've seen the Kingdom within us，do we truly know how to love Jesus，do we truly know how to appreciate him，can we truly worship God then. 
 
 
At the moment，if we haven't known God yet… If you have known already，forgive me; I mean the majority of the people，when they have not known God，God is only an abstract conception of 『nothing.』Don't know what God is. Everybody says God is love. But love what？What is love？ 『If Hes loves me，why every day I'm so miserable？Why when I have no money，Hes didn't give me？Why when I'm sick，Hes didn't heal me？Why when I'm in trouble，I call Hirm，Hes doesn't come to aid？』
 
 
So，we can't know God's love if we are not in contact with Hirm. So，the purpose of my talk is that I have the way that you can contact with this love power，or the Kingdom within，or the Buddha Nature within yourself. And every day you will know that love，you will know that God is love. 
 
 
God is not a person，two persons，with a big beard like this，but God is truly love: L-O-V-E. So when God is love，means，if we got in touch with God we are loved. What it means？We are taken care of from then on ２４hours，every day.
 
 
Every minute of the day we will know Hes is there，love is there，surrounding us，emitting from us and enveloping us，and then also radiating to all directions and benefitting others. And that is the true love. Not to embrace one another and say 『I love you，』but the sense of universal love. You carry this love，you sleep with this love，you eat with this love. You know it，but you don't talk about it even，ever anymore. You are so sure of that that words are useless.
 
 
And now we are going around screaming，『Love，love，love. God is love. I love you，everybody loves each other，』but then a minute later we fight. We talk a lot and we have nothing. Just like everyone screaming， 『Money！Money！』and they have none. And now a millionaire，he doesn't go around screaming， 『I have money！』- he just has it，and he knows it for sure and he's so secure about it.
 
 
He walks around laughing. And when everybody talks about money，arguing about the money，about a few pennies on the street，he laughs. He says，『What is it worth a few pennies，and arguing like that？』Understand？He has so much he can't believe people argue over pennies. The same，when an enlightened saint walks around，he doesn't talk about God or about Buddha - he doesn't argue anymore - he knows what God is. He is with God，he is in God，or you may say，he and God are one，like Jesus said. But then that person doesn't always，every day，going around sticking his nose in the air and say，『I and God are one，』or let people smell about this.
 
 
No，no. That person will be so humble，so…just lovable and is just normal. And so Taoism would say， 『xin ping chang shi dao，』『The ordinary mind is the Tao.』Now we hear that the ordinary mind is the Tao，so we say，『Okay，then I am an ordinary person，I have an ordinary mind. I don't need to meditate，I don't need to pray to God，I don't need to do anything. I don't need to get enlightenment because `ordinary mind is the Tao.'』
 
 
Only in its true sense when you have got the Tao，when you're really ordinary - means very，very sensible，ordinary，normal - but ordinary people are not normal. Why？Because our minds are disturbed by all kinds of thinking，all kinds of vexations，and that is not 『ordinary mind.』An ordinary mind means he sleeps when he's tired; he eats when he's hungry; he has no vexation in his mind waves; he is enlightened without thinking that he is enlightened; he's a Buddha without worrying that he is a Buddha，without being proud about his status. He just eats and sleeps like everyone，but he is the Buddha. He's so ordinary in his heart. He's so peaceful，so harmonized with all beings.
 
 
He has no hatred，no worries，no anxieties，no vexations，and that is really an ordinary mind，a mind of an enlightened person. Even when they are eating，they can manifest their body in all over the countries and universes to save all kinds of sentient beings. Even when they are sleeping，their manifestation bodies fly all over the universe，hell，Heavens. Rescuing all beings and teaching all kinds of beings，but then he is very ordinary，and that is what's called 『xin ping chang shi dao，』 『an ordinary mind is the Tao.』
 
 
Not that we ordinary persons have this Tao. We have it，but we are not still enough to recognize it. Those who are still enough，quiet enough within，they recognize the Tao. They know it so they became enlightened，they became Buddha or saints or Christ or one with God. That is the difference between an 『ordinary mind』and an 『ordinary being.』But why Jesus said， 『No one comes through Father except through me』？
 
 
And，was he still having an ego？No. He only spoke the truth for the purpose of enlightening others，otherwise he couldn't care less. He would just eat and sleep instead of sacrificing his body，weary，health，and speech to speak to a lot of ignorant people. When Lord Krishna mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita，he also said， 『When you worship me，then you will attain true liberation.
 
 
You have to devote to me，worship me，listen to my instruction，obey my commandment，and love me alone，then you'll get true liberation.』Now，it sounds like a big ego，but no，it is like the same，same in the case of Jesus. The 『me』is not the 『I』ego，the 『me』is the real man within us，the what we call 『ben lai mian mu，』 『the real face.』  『Our real face before yesterday，』that is the talking in Zen Buddhism. The 『me』is the inner Man，the real one who will be awakened at the time of initiation from a competent master. 
 
 
We remember the story of the Sleeping Beauty，waiting until the Prince comes，gives her a kiss of life and then she is awakened. In the old days，people dared not speak about enlightenment and practicing openly，so they use parables，yes？It's like covering up by a story，yes，and then using that to talk to other people，and then their disciples understand. To ordinary people，it might not be easy to understand.
 
 
And after they practice with this enlightened master，they will also be able to understand. Okay. We have three nations here in this assembly. I feel actually honored and proud and happy that God，or the Most High，or the Buddha，has granted us this honor to be together，at least for a few hours in our very，very busy times and in our modern and very hurried times，that we could even find time to sit together，three nationalities and different countries.
 
 
And I came from Formosa (Taiwan) for the first time to meet you，but I feel I'm at home. I don't feel any separation whatsoever. Do you？You feel or not？Yes or no？No. I feel nothing，no separation，as I have known you for a long，long，long，long，long time，and this make me so joyful.
 
 
No words can explain this. Now，we see that in the three religious scriptures - the Buddhist，the Hindu，the Sikh，or others like Taoism - they also mention that you have to believe in a master，a living master，and follow that master's instruction in order to get liberation. They don't say that so that you may come and worship at their feet. No.
 
 
They just tell the truth. And，actually，these masters do not accept people's offering and worship. They only mean in a literal sense，means you have to worship the instructions of the master. Therefore，Jesus didn't say， 『You must worship me in person.』He said，『If you love me，keep my commandments.』Yes，that's what it means by worship 『me，the master.』
 
 
Why is that the true masters don't accept people's offering and worship？Because they are so humble. They know each and every one has the true Master within him and herself，and so these true masters，or 『our real face from yesterday』or the Kingdom within or the real man，has to be awakened，and that's all there is to it. And then you find your Master. Before you find that，and you could not do...  If you could do it yourself，then fine and good. If you could not，then ask someone who has already awakened his or her own inner Self.
 
 
And it is so simple; it's the meaning of a master who can help us to awaken our real Self within. You see，some people ask me the same question again and again，『If we have the Heaven within，if we have the Buddha Nature within our heart，why couldn't we find it alone？Why do we have to go to a master anyway？』I'd say，『If you can find it alone，then welcome.』It is pretty tough，difficult. The road to Heavens is like a razor's edge.
 
 
This is difficult to walk alone without the help of someone who knows the road，because 『Narrow is the road that leads to liberation. Broad and wide is the road to destruction and many will walk therein.』Why is it so difficult to walk on the road of liberation？It is because it's a counter-stream. We call it 『ni liou.』People are swimming in pleasures，in sensual enjoyments，and we are in the opposite direction. It is difficult to swim counter-current，so we need the help of someone who is a little bit stronger，who knows the road，who has developed a little bit more power in advance - it means 『before us』- and later we will grow strong，and we become like the same.
 

If we want to become a Buddha，we have to follow the Buddha's road，the Buddha's method，of enlightenment. So in the Buddhist scripture，the Surangama Sutra - 『Leng Yan Jing，』『Kinh Lăng Nghiêm』- Shakyamuni Buddha said we have to practice the method of turning the hearing inward and hearing the inner Nature，the Self nature. How can we hear the inner Nature？Then it must have some Sounds.
 
 
So，exactly， we come to that point. Inner Sound vibration we can hear，but without the ears. To open the inner ears is a job of someone who knows how to open it. It is like to fly an airplane is the job of some pilot who knows how to fly it.
 
 
He has learned it and he has been capable and he has obtained the permission to fly. Not only he can fly himself back home but he can take along so many others with him. And so the same with a so-called master or enlightened saint - they can go Home and they can take a lot of others who want to follow them.
 
 
But to follow a master or to go on an airplane，we must buy some ticket，and it costs some money. Now，to follow a master you don't need any money，you don't need any ticket，but you need some virtues，and that is the 『money，』that is a property of Heaven. We want to go to Heaven，we must use the virtues as a ticket. Therefore，an ethical life is emphasized in all kinds of scriptures，by all kinds of past，present，and even future masters.
 
 
No master who is worth his salt would teach people to lead an indulgent life in sensual pleasures，because if you worship the flesh，then you cannot worship the spirit. You cannot worship God and mammon at the same time，that's what the Bible says. Now，in the Bible it also says，『Forsake the flesh for the spirit，』『Those who abandon life will find it.』That means we must sacrifice，or we must control our life，to some certain extents，to measure up to the Buddha's or Heavens' standard. It is just like people when they want to immigrate to America，they must be up to Americans' standard. Is that not so？
 
 
And it is better when you could speak English，then you must have a green card. All these conditions demand some disciplines on our part，demand some self sacrifices. We must sell our property in our country，we must learn to be disciplined like the Americans' way of life，and we must adjust ourselves to this kind of life.
 
 
For instance，we drive a car and it's a little bit… 『flying style，』yes？Flying style，and the taxi，it goes like this，yes，on the highway，『zoooop！』and then he'll go in ５minutes，and in no sight，because he wants to be in hurry，he wants to earn money. Here in America，taxis couldn't go like that，no？For example，when a New Yorker comes to California，he has to obey Californian rules.
 
 
When I go to California，I feel so comfortable. Everywhere I'm surrounded with saint: Santa Clara，San Jose，San Francisco. It is truly a saintly atmosphere. I feel so welcomed，so relaxed. And all the cars have no black smoke behind. I love that. I love that. I feel it's so good for my health.
 
 
If we want to become a Buddha or enter Buddha's land or the Kingdom of Heavens，we must be born again. 『Except you be born again，you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.』What is meant by 『born again』？That means，『I die daily.』How to die daily and be born again and yet living？Yes. 『Learn to die so that you may begin to live.』  
 
 
How to die，anyone know？Kill yourself？Kill the ego？Yes，that is right，but how to kill the ego？We don't only kill the ego，we truly die; we truly die in a physical way. We 『die』for a moment or two，we 『die』 for a few hours，and then we go back to work. That's what it is by dying. And what happens when we die in this way？ We don't die in an actual sense，but we are still connected with our physical body by the so-called silver cord. 
 
 
Only when we truly die，then the silver cord is broken; our connection with the physical body is severed，and then you've gone for good. But only those who are enlightened and saved by enlightening themselves and by the God power within them can go forever. The others just go for some time，maybe to Heavens，maybe to hell，maybe to the 『animals' clothing shop，』yes. Some shops are selling 『animal clothes』and you can wear it for few decades and then change it into human clothes. Understand？
 
 
So now，if we stray into those animal clothes shops，then we can wear animals' clothes for some time. Or we go to Heaven，then we wear heavenly clothes. Or if we go to hell，then we wear very hot clothes，so wear hot-fire，barbeque clothes. So we can barbeque for some time and then go back to human life again. So this is what happens to people who are unenlightened. The virtuous ones will go to Heaven，the so-called un-virtuous，they go to hell.
 
 
This is according to the Buddhist explanation. But we must not believe it，actually，if we don't want to. We can prove it ourselves by opening our wisdom eye. Therefore，people say we have the third eye or the Buddha eyes or an extra eye.
 
 
Therefore，the Hindu custom，every morning they make devotion，then they put an eye on their forehead，and that is the custom before to remind yourself to remember that eye. Now we only have custom and no essence. Everybody heard about the third eye and the wisdom eye and nobody knows where it is. It is here. And nobody knows how to open it. We can open it. I know how to open it. I can help you to open it yourself.  
 
 
If I can open mine，then you can yours. We are not physically any different. The wisdom eyes are same from the just-born infant to the ８０-，９０-year-old man. Once it's open，it is the same. When it isn't opened，it is all thus，all the same. It just that we couldn't use it，that's all. It is like a magnifying glass，if you don't take it up，you can't see the small words. If you forgot where it is，then you are helpless even though you have eyes，you cannot see.
 
 
Our wisdom eye at the moment is clouded with some obstructions made by our own ignorance and our previous deeds of un-virtuous actions. And now，to clean it，we need the hand of someone who knows. We need a great power from God，and this great power we have within us. We only have to open the tap and it runs out.
 
 
Like the water tank，full of water，but the tap is obstructed，and if the plumber，he comes and he clears it or he changes into a new one，and then the tap is in order again. And you just open it and the water will come rushing out，because water is already there. The plumber won't give you water; it is the water already in the pipe，it just needs adjusting，repairing，the tap. So if you wish，I could 『repair the tap』for you，free of charge and free of any condition.
 
 
But on one condition，yes，you should purify your life: you should follow a virtuous diet. From today we vow never to take life，flesh，again; never to take any life，never to tell a lie，never to steal. Exactly like the １０commandments of the Bible，or the five Buddhist householder precepts: you don't kill，don't tell lies; don't steal，don't commit adultery，don't drink alcohol or gambling or drugs，cigarettes…
 
 
We are to be intoxicated by God power and not by these cheap substitutes. Before we are allowed to do that，or we may do that in ignorance，because we are unhappy，we are craving for something，we don't know what is empty.
 
 
It's so empty inside，and we're unhappy. Despite all this money and civilized comfort，we feel somehow unsatisfied，so we look for cigarettes，we look for drugs，we look to gambling，we look for，maybe what we call sex or whatever，in order to satisfy.
 
 
We think that will satisfy us. And the more we use them，the more we feel exhausted and empty，and meaningless. So no one is truly happy after these things. So the more you take，the more you crave it，and the more you feel abused from body and mind.
 
 
So the real intoxication will substitute all this and make you satisfied，and you won't want even that，you won't even want it. So many of my disciples，smoking，drinking，５０years of their lives，just come，get initiation and nothing more，and just stop automatically. And God knows why，I know why: because they are happy within.
 
 
They're joyous. They've found it，they've found the joy，they've found the true satisfaction that they have been always longing for，life after life. And now the time has come，they must get it in order to feel good and feel happy，be one with God and go Home.
 
 
Other people，the time is not up. They still have to run around in this life doing some of their missions，or fulfilling whatever is needed to be done，for their part，for their evolution. And when the time's come，they also will look for an enlightened master，they also will look for a true path，and then they also will go Home.
 
 
And they'll also quit with all worldly attachments and desires. And 『to die』means truly die. When we meditate，we may see Heavens - that means you die. Only the dead ones can go to Heaven，understand that？Yes？The dead ones go to Heaven. So when we meditate，we may go to Heaven，visit for a while，or we may go to Buddha Land. Heaven is a little… I say it a little bit loosely.
 
 
Actually，Heavens are lower than the Kingdom of God. People use it loosely - Heaven and Kingdom of God is the same - it is because when Jesus goes around，people are used to with the word 『Heaven.』If he used other words，like Nirvana (the highest paradise)，nobody would understand.
 
 
So in Buddhism，we use 『Nirvana.』If I go to the Buddhists，I say it is Nirvana，but when I go to the Christians，I say it is the Kingdom of God. Then people understand both mean the same thing. Now，when we visit these Heavens or the most high Kingdom of God，that means we die for a while; we leave our body and go to the blissful sphere. That is what it means by dying daily.  
 
 
We can die like that any time we want，and come back to life at will. We can control this，we can even control our heartbeat，control our breathing - everything is done by us. So we can also go to Heaven，go to Buddha's Land at will，if we know how，if every day we practice. It is like we learn how to fly an airplane，and one day we fly to America just like that，because we can. We have done it，we practiced it，and we are used to it. Okay？Now，it's time for questions. Thank you for your undivided attention.
 
To have undivided attention is the real respect.
 
 
 
*You mentioned on Saturday that some sects got a partial enlightenment that ate meat. Wouldn't this be a way for us westerners？
 
 
『You mentioned Saturday that some sects got partial enlightenment，』means a little bit of enlightenment only，yes， 『that ate meat. Wouldn't this be a way for us westerners and gradually do without meat？』I understand. You want to bargain. Yes，then you go there，yes？Go there and get partly enlightenment，if you ever get one. Even to be partly enlightened，you must find a partly enlightened master，and these are very rare even. Because those who eat meat and drink wine and mess up with worldly pleasures hardly can leave them. And if you can't leave these，then you can't go to the Kingdom of God. God demands undivided attention.
 
 
If we worship meat，women，and other things before God，then God leaves us alone. 『Okay，enjoy.』Yes，God wants us alone. But the thing is，I don't mean you have to all become monks，yes？At least you don't have to become monks. You can still have wife and husband，just lead a little bit chaste，controlled sex life，and no other adultery，and that is easy to do，no？
 
 
And now with the meat diet，if you can't leave meat，then meat can't leave you. 『Meat for the belly and the belly for the meat，』and God shall destroy them both. You remember that in the Bible？Yes，don't say I preach Buddhist doctrine; it is in your Bibles，they say the same thing. And the Buddha forbade any kind of meat to the Buddhist practitioners. If you want to be partly enlightened，I may teach you also，or you may go find these partly ones.
 
 
But it is difficult，yes，and then if I teach you in this way，I'd feel a little bit irresponsible. Why is it so？Because I feel I have left you halfway if you just practice at home，with meat. And without a master，sometimes you run into difficulty. Yes？And then I could not completely help you out of this because you can't leave meat alone and the meat will cause a lot of disturbances when we go higher in consciousness. It's kind of a struggle，understand？
 
 
If you want to go very high is good. It's terrible. What is good about eating meat？Tell me. Don't you feel it is so bloody？Okay，think about it. Read my book about why we should be vegetarian and then think about it again. Maybe next year or next life I come back and we will discuss about that. This is a long subject so I could not really discuss here now.
 
 
 
*My name is Thục Minh， ６３years old. I have been a vegetarian for almost ７years. Being able to see you today，I really wish to receive the initiation from you. With reverence，please accept my plea. Thank you.
 
 
 
Okay. This woman，she's ６３years old，and she has been vegetarian since seven years and she begged me for initiation，and she says if I accept her，she thanks，and that's it. That's all there is. She wants to get initiation. Sure，sure. No problem，okay. Yes，no problem. Tomorrow，tomorrow. Another one？Seventy-two years old！
 
『My name is Bùi ThịBẩn，７２years old. I have been eating vegetarian food for a long time. Now I want to get initiation，vowing to be a vegetarian from today.』
 
Are you sure？
 
She's old and she also wants to get initiation. She promises to be vegetarian from today. So I say，『Really？Can you do that，to switch so quickly，so old？』She says， 『Oh，no problem.』
 
 
『Jesus told the apostles it was okay to eat meat，that all that God created was good，that it didn't matter what we put in our body through our mouth，but what matters is what we put in our spirit. So why is being a vegetarian a requisite for enlightenment？』Nonsense. Isn't it that eating vegetables like a ritual？No.
 
 
Jesus，since a child，was a vegetarian. He was born in an Essene family. It is like you were born in a Hindu caste - you eat vegetarian since childhood. It is like you're born in a true Sikh family，you also eat vegetarian since childhood. It also like you're born in a true Buddhist family，you eat vegetarian since childhood. And Jesus，in the Gospel，he said you could not eat meat.
 
 
And even in the Bible，God said…what？You remember？ 『Who told you to kill the bullock，the she-goat，and to make offering to me？Wash yourself from this innocent blood so I may hear your prayer，otherwise，I will turn my head away because your hands are full of blood.』Hes doesn't allow us to kill she-goats and he-goats to offer to God. How would Hes allow us to eat？Hes said，『These are innocent lives，repent yourself so I may forgive you.』Didn't Hes say so in the Bible so？Did you read this part？No？Go back and read the Bible.
 
 
And now，you only read what you want to read and then you，the people，twist it all around; the same with the Buddhists. In the Buddhist Bible，it is mentioned again and again in many places where you never can eat any sentient beings' meat. And then，you see，most Buddhists also say， 『I am a Buddhist and eat meat.』
 
 
So what can we say about this？No，nothing. So，you follow what you think is a compassionate way，you follow what you think pleases God. God created，didn't kill. Everything dies naturally，so if we force life to end abruptly，we take the right from God，understand that？Only God has the right to kill. We can't create anything，why do we kill？  
 
 
Jesus did not say that. Jesus said: Don't care - it means 『don't bother』- much about what you eat，and what you clothe. God will look after you.』That's what he means. What he meant is that his disciples should not worry so much about material comfort but should surrender to God and 『God will take care of you.』Therefore，he also said， 『Seek you first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto you.』
 
 
That is what it is. Jesus never told you to eat meat. He ate vegetarian since a child. Besides，he went to India for some ten，more，years，nineteen years or something，according to the research，and when he went to India，he learned with all Hindu yogis and Buddhist monks，and these were vegetarian from birth，you must know. Even if Jesus ate meat，when he followed these people for ten-some years，he could never go back to the meat diet again. I am sorry if you miscalculate this. Now，you read too little，that's the problem. You only choose the meat lines and forget the vegetarian line.
 
 
Question number two: 『Jesus said he sent us one Comforter，the Holy Spirit; he did not say he sent us many men as Comforters.』He didn't say one. 『So why is it said that Buddha or other masters are Christ or Comforters sent by Jesus？』No，Jesus was born after Buddha，so if we say it is 『sent，』means the Buddha sent Jesus. Jesus was 『younger』than Buddha. I'm sorry，you read it wrong. Buddha was not sent by Jesus because Jesus was born after Buddha. But anyhow，they're all the same.
 
 
Please don't argue about this point. God sends many Comforters，not only Jesus. Before Jesus there were Elias，there were many saints. Therefore，when somebody asked Jesus: Are you the reincarnation of such and such past master，like Elias，like so-and-so？Jesus didn't say anything，that he wasn't. He accepted by silence，understand？
 
 
So，before Jesus there were masters，and after Jesus there will be masters. Before Buddha，there were Buddhas，after Buddha，there will be Buddhas. God sends Buddhas，God sent Jesus，not that Jesus sent Buddhas. Anyhow，Jesus is a little bit younger. Number three: 『Are all babies reincarnated souls？』What do you think they are？Yes？
 
 
If they're not reincarnated souls，what are they？Reincarnated stone？Number four: 『How does reincarnation work？Does a soul that wants to be reincarnated waits for a woman to get pregnant？』It is like this: a soul can be reincarnated when his merit is complete for a human standard.
 
 
To be born as a human being，you must have a very virtuous life in the life before，or you have already paid all the bad sins that you have done previously. Now，to be born as a human being you have to possess the human qualities，like you are not killing，you are not committing adultery，you are not stealing，you are not lying，you are not gambling，drinking，drugging in the last life，and then this life you come back straight away，you're born as human again. But if last life you did something wrong according to these five precepts，then you are not born as a human.
 
 
Now，before a child is born，a soul is resting in some intermediate place，yes？And then when the cause is ripe，when a woman and a man have some affinities with this baby's soul，then he can come; not before that，yes？All the conditions have to be correct. You can't just go and be a son of anyone，or a baby of anyone.
 
 
So all of us，family members，are connected by cause and effect and conditions from many lives，according to Buddhism; you don't need to believe me，okay. Yes，another one: 『Or does a soul look at all the pregnant women and decide which one he wants to be born from？』I've already said. 『Or does a person get pregnant because a soul wants to get reincarnated？』I've said already，all the causes and conditions have to be ripe，altogether. Yes.
 
 
And this decided by what？- by the karma，or the so-called cause and conditions in the previous life. This book of life，or karma (retribution)，we can read when we go to a certain level of enlightenment，the Second World. There we have a library; we can get the books of life from everyone and know where he comes from，who he has affinity with，and what his future life is，but for the one who practices the enlightening method， the Quan Yin Method that I may teach you，you don't reincarnate  again except if he is willing to do so by his own will for some purpose to help others.
 
 
 
*This one wants to know how old you are，and is it necessary to meditate two-and-a-half hours every day and why？
 
 
It is necessary. Yes. How old I am，you can never guess. Can you say how old？The questioner may guess.
 
*Thirty-five.
 
So young？Eighteen？Thirty eight？Yes，something like that. Yes，in that way. Now，that doesn't matter. That's only the age of my physical body. I am as old as the world and as young as have never been born. Now，we have to meditate two-and-a-half hours because it is necessary to cleanse our soul，our infected areas，with a lot of elixir. Now，if you are dirty from all-day work，you come home，you need two gallons，no less.
 
 
Every day we mix in the world and are infected by others and affected by everyone around us，and by our own unavoidable misdeeds. For example，we breathe，we kill a lot of invisible beings. We eat vegetables，we kill vegetable life，understand？
 
 
Or we may step on worms and ants，and wash our hands; disinfecting kills a lot of invisible life. Understand？So these two-and-a-half hours is two gallons of water to wash our soul，understand that？Yes. If you wash with one-and-a-half gallons is also okay，but it's not completely clean. Then tomorrow，you add again some more dirt and then you only clean with one gallon. So every day you're not completely clean，and you may smell one day.
 
 
 
*You mention that only God has the right to kill. Can you please elaborate on this？Thank you.
 
 
Yes，because God created everything. Hes knows when a soul should change the clothes，not we. Understand？It's like you're working for a company and your boss is the one who decides which machine is good，complete，and can be sold out with a good price; which machine has defects and has to be broken up again and make it up in another form，understand？You cannot do that. If you do it by yourself… or you do it wrong or you think this machine is not complete， 『Okay，I take it home，』then you've committed a working mistake; your boss will kick you out or fire you，make you pay with money. Yes？That's the thing.
 
 
 
*When I am aware of my discontentment and longing to know a master or guide，how will I come to meet one that can help me and satisfy my emptiness？Also，do I have to come to the point of complete despair before this will happen？
 
 
It happened already. When you are ready，the master will come. It's always like that，not before. But if you think you're not sure，then go home and pray to God，『Please make me feel sure who is the one I may follow？Whom shall I follow？』But I have said already how to recognize a master. A master would not take anything from you for his or her own living.
 
 
He gives，and she gives，everything free of charge; only service and no demand. Then you lose nothing from the beginning anyhow. You don't fear anything. Now，the second sign to recognize a master is that she or he can give you the Bible- or the scripture-mentioned enlightened experience.  Yes？If an enlightened person can see heavenly light like a flame，can hear God's voice like thunder，then at least your master should，must，be able to give you this kind of basic experience.
 
 
Then you know he or she is a real master. Otherwise，how do you know？Everybody can write down here 『I'm a master.』Everyone can say he's a millionaireand never show you any money. The real master，not only she or he has to be enlightened，he or she must give you also the enlightened experience in one minute or two. That is a sign of a competent master，okay？

*I am a vegetarian but my partner is not. What would be a good and sensible way of handling the cooking for the two of us？We are not very traditional and sometimes cook or eat our meals separately.
 
 
Eat separately already？(*Sometimes they do，yes.) Only sometimes？And the other times you eat meat or what？Yes，that is the way. You cook separately. You cook for him meat and you cook for yourself vegetarian，each one for themselves and we don't need to force anyone to be vegetarian if they are not willing to accept it，if they're not ready for it.
 
But you yourself eat vegetarian，and we live peaceful together，why not？If you can tell your partner to eat vegetarian，then it is better for you both. He will or she will eventually，if you show a good example. If you progress，you have a good vibration，you meditate and you radiate love，and it will affect him.
 
 
 
*After practicing with Master，I have no time to visit my former teacher. Am I ungrateful？
 
You are not. You meditate every day，you worship the Buddha within you. You have become an enlightened person who can save yourself，save your relatives and friends and other sentient beings. It's a way to repay your teacher. You don't have to visit him.
 
 
Of course，you can if you have time，but if you don't practice spiritually and do bad things，what's the use of visiting him？How can you repay his kindness？If we are good and filial children，we don't just visit our parent，we should become good people，perform well in our job，and offer our parents money. That's how you repay them. Understand？If you hang around your parents every day and live off of them instead of making money yourself，it's no use. Understand？
 
 
It's like this. He asked me，if he studies with me，then he has no more time to go back to see his previous master - means the teacher，yes，who didn't teach him this method. Like，teach you the virtuous life and things like…like a priest，or they just tell you the virtuous things.
 
 
And he said，if he couldn't go back，had no time to come back to see his old teacher，would it be like he's a betrayer or some kind of…not remembering the benefactor，yes，the benefit that the teacher has given him. I said，no，no，you requite your teacher's kindness by improving yourself spiritually and virtuously，and then when you're enlightened… The more you're enlightened，the more you can radiate love and life and save a lot of others and yourself，then that is requiting the kindness of the teachers. There's no need to always to hang around him and being ignorant. If you hang around a teacher and be ignorant，that is not the way of requiting the kindness. It's not so？
 
 
 
*Why did you not become a sister Christ？
 
 
I don't mind. I'd like to be a sister also，whatever. It is only a kind of… a way of life. Yes？A different path，I mean，different clothing. I was born in a… you see，more in a Buddhist tradition. Yes？And also，in the Buddhist monastery or anywhere I can get vegetarian food，but in a Christian monastery，not.
 
 
Also because of some affinity，you understand？You become what is by the ordination of the Most High. You become a wife because you have to do a wife part; you become presidents because you have to fulfill the presidents' purpose; you become a Buddhist nun or a Catholic monk，it is your destiny. Even though you are enlightened，you follow your destiny. For example，the Buddha，after he was enlightened he could also come back as a householder again; he changed the clothes，but his enlightenment won't change. Understand？
 
 
But he didn't change，he just carried on like that. So now，when you are wearing lay clothes and then after you get enlightenment，say from the Quan Yin Method，after the initiation you are enlightened，now do you need to change from jeans to a miniskirt or not？Or to different clothes or not？No. If you are enlightened，you are enlightened no matter in what clothes. 
 
 
You can wear Sikh clothes，you can wear Hindu clothes，you can wear Buddhist clothes or Christian clothes，it makes no difference. You don't need to change anymore. Understand that？Yes？So why do I have to change anything？I'm okay like this. Don't I look very good？So，if it pleases you，then I don't need to change.
 
 
 
*Why can't we drink alcohol？Through medical research，it has been proven to have a good effect.
 
 
No. The drinking affects our mind，makes our mind clouded and confused，and numbs our nerves to some extent. Everybody knows this. So I don't care what good it affects you on the surface，it does harm to the brain，to the thinking system，and we have to rely on this thinking system in order to get enlightened. Understand that？The more we numb it，the more confused we become，and we couldn't think straight. That's why we should not drink wine.
 
 
 
*What is the cause and result？
 
 
The cause and result is that if you sow… In the Bible，it says， 『As you sow，so shall you reap.』You sow a lemon seed，you will get lemon fruit. You do bad deed，you will get bad effect. If you do some good one，you will get good karma (retribution). If you follow the Buddha's path，you will become Buddha. If you follow the worldly path，you'll become worldly sentient beings. Yes？
 
 
 
*The third question is: What is the cause and the connection？
 
 
The cause and connection is like this. Sometimes in the last life，this man gave that woman some material comfort. If that woman had not done anything in that life to repay the kindness in material ways，then she has to come back again，maybe becoming his wife or his daughter，in order to work，earn money，and pay back the debt. That is what called 『yin yuan，』or the cause and the connection.
 
 
So make sure you pay every debt if you don't want to go back. Therefore，to learn with me，means to keep the ethical life. Don't steal，so you don't have to come back. Make every deal straight，honest. Yes.
 
 
 
*I am very interested in the initiation，but I would have a problem with not committing adultery or premarital sex. What would you suggest about this problem？
 
 
Premarital sex is not adultery provided you don't change your partner and intend to marry. And nowadays，these are similar to marriage，yes？You live together and you first know each other and so that's all right. Just don't go to the other and don't change so quick.
 
 
If，however，you're not married and then you couldn't stand each other and you couldn't sort it out with each other after all kinds of trials and tribulations，and talk and peace settlement，and you couldn't make it，and you both decide to separate，or maybe in future unintentionally you bump into another，then I think you should be honest to yourself and that's enough. You know？
 
 
We couldn't be too strict in this modern time. What I mean by adultery is that you already have a wife and husband and they are good to you，and harmonious，and you still，due to lustful desire，you look around and hurt your partner. Understand？Yes. But then，after you practice this method for a while，you don't feel you want to look around anymore. Yes. You will naturally become pure because God power will cleanse you.
 
 
『I would like to know: Where does the content of hallucination come from？Does it come from the same source as dreams within or without？』Yes. There's the first question，interesting. You know where does hallucination come from？From our own wrong thinking，from our wrong diet. 
 
 
Therefore，Buddha said，when you eat meat and drink wine and indulge in sexual pleasure or worldly pleasure，you can get only the demon king's position and never the Buddha's position. The 『demon king』means the position of hallucination of false position，and not the true one，the highest one.
 
 
The hallucination comes easily，when our speech，body and mind are not clean，and we try to meditate，or we meditate alone without a competent master. Now，an ethical life and cleanliness of body，speech，and mind are absolutely essential if you want to reach the ultimate，otherwise you might reach some between Heavens or some hallucination.
 
 
Now，hallucination might come without meditation of any kind，when you lack oxygen，so sometimes you fainted and you，like，you see some Heaven; it is your lacking of oxygen，yes？Or when you endure extreme pain and hardship，and you've fainted，you also see that. Or when you are too exhausted or when you take drugs，you will have a hallucination，yes.
 
 
Okay，so many，they come from. This is similar to dreams，but then it isn't always a dream. A dream is a little bit natural - you go to sleep，and you dream. But hallucination comes for some time，from external pressure，yes，like I have said，you are in extreme pain or you're lacking of oxygen，exhausted，or you take drugs，understand？So it's a little bit different，that's all.
 
 
『I have a medical condition that requires diet of animal protein，chicken，etc.，what shall I do？』I do not know that in this age people still misunderstand that animal protein，that it's the only one protein in the world. All the doctors，science，have proven that vegetable protein is absolutely enough，and even more helpful for health than the meat diet. In Formosa (Taiwan)，there are two hospitals built by the Catholic believers.
 
 
All the doctors，nurses，and patients require completely vegetarian diet inside. If you want to lie there，you have to be vegetarian. And they recover very quickly; nobody dies from any malnutrition. Yes，so I think the vegetarian diet，no doubt，is the best. You know，the Americans eat a lot of meat，and so，according to research，your country has the highest cancer rate in the world. Is that a case for congratulations？And then Russia and China have no meat，they have the lowest cancer rate. How about that for a comparison and fun？
 
 
 
*My Buddhist name is Diệu Thần. I am ８０years old，and have been a vegetarian for the last ７years.
 
 
Okay. Understand. Yes，okay. Yes，yes，yes. Yes，you can learn.
 
She wants to get initiation.
 
 
 
*May I ask: Is it true that if we lose the body，we won't lose the soul？So if I try my best to practice spiritually until I gain wisdom and detachment. Is that considered following the Buddha's path？
 
 
Yes，yes. But you have to know the path to practice before you can practice，not that you practice blindly. After I teach you，then you'll know how to practice，understand？That's correct. What you think is correct，but you're still lacking a method. Tomorrow，I will teach you. You must be vegan.
 
 
 
*And will I get liberation？
 
Liberated，yes. Only by practicing this method can you be liberated. Thank you.
 
『Currently，I keep a vegan diet ６months per year，ever since I was ２０years old.』Since you were ２０years old until this year，you eat vegan for six months per year，right？And now you want to learn. Sure，sure，sure. No problem. Yes，sure. You are still young yet，no need to ask if you're ５９years old. Sixty-five years old can't apply. Yes，okay.
 
 
 
*What happens to a child who dies before enlightenment？
 
A child who dies before enlightenment？That's nothing big deal. Everybody dies before enlightenment. So，you will come back again as something else，okay？A child dies before enlightenment is not so sorrowful as we die when we are old and unenlightened. We have so long a time and without searching for a master or a method. A child，he can't help it，but we can. We have time to change，we are ３０，４０，５０; we still have time，so do it.
 
 
 
*What about prescription drugs？And what about sex life with your married partner？
 
 
Okay，just minimize it as much as you can，in order to progress quickly，as much as you can，yes？Do it naturally，otherwise，the mind will revolt. So，slowly，naturally，and the more you practice，the more natural it becomes，and then you will completely feel like it's not necessary: if you have it，okay，if you don't，it's all right. You feel like the monks and the nuns without any difficulty，yes.
 
 
Sex is not really necessary; it's only a habit，yes. Now observe，sometimes if you don't see a woman for many months，then you don't feel so much. If you're away from your wife for periods of time，yes，and you're working hard，you don't feel like you need any sexual indulgence，no？Is that not so？You try it for some time，then you'll know what I mean.
 
 
And now，the animals，they never desire anything until the time comes. They have their season，is that not so？Now，man is in the animal kingdom except his mind belongs to God. He is also an animal，and，actually，we are overindulgent in this. We should observe the rule of physical law，do it in season only. I mean，not just for pleasure - just for procreation's sake，yes？So the Bible says don't indulge yourself. We do it too much and it will become habit，and then becomes boring，then it's nothing there.
 
 
 
*Most spiritual masters of the past could only enlighten very few disciples. Why do you offer enlightenment to so many？
 
 
Who are many？Do you think all of them will come up to me and get enlightened？No. Some will come and some won't. Most of the masters in the ancient times offered，of course，only to a few because a few only came.
 
 
Most of them were hiding and dared not come out in the open. Once they came out in the open…！Don't you see Jesus？Three-and-a-half years only they let him live. You see the fifth guru，they chased him from one city to another，they flayed him alive，they burned him in the hot sun and oven underneath，made him sit - the fifth guru of the Sikh religion. They made him sit on top of a hot pan under the hot sun with burning fire underneath.
 
 
He，with almighty power，didn't resist this. Not because he's a coward，but he bears the punishment for the sake of his disciples. He takes the bad karma (retribution)，the ugly and heavy karma (retribution) of his disciples on his own body. Therefore，he had to endure some punishment. Like Jesus，he can disappear at will，he can fly to Heaven，he can do some magic tricks; but he did not resist. He let them nail him.
 
 
Not because he couldn't run; he could. He could disappear at will; he had a lot of magical power. He disappeared many times，according to the Bible's records. He learned a lot of yogis' tricks. He can disappear，manifest，can heal the sick，heal the blind，can walk across the water，but he won't.
 
 
Why？- because he has to wash the sins of his disciples at that time. Every master has to bear the sins of whoever comes to his feet for enlightenment，because the sins of a human being are numerous，numerous lives collected. It's impossible to imagine how big it is. Now，what did the master，the Buddha master，say about this？The Buddha said， 『If you can see the sin of one person，it fills up the whole universe.』
 
 
One single person's sin fills up the whole universe. In the Bible，it also says when we are born，we sinned already. We inherit the sin in our blood，and how can we wash it with our own limited wisdom and strength？Need a Son of God，the savior，or the master who knows the way to wash it.
 
 
 
*Is there only one higher power？Can you not use a fellowship of somewhat enlightened people who share their experience，strengths and hopes as a group for an enlightened master？
 
 
Is there just one higher power？Yes，the highest one; and the higher it goes，the higher the power，the stronger. The lower it descends to our world，nearer to our world，the less the power. Therefore， enlightenment has levels. The higher you climb，the more enlightened，the more power you possess， until you become one with God.
 
 
Then you have the absolute power，and at that time，you'd say you've attained Nirvana，you've attained Buddhahood，or you've become one with God，you have God-realization. Now，『Can you not use a fellowship of somewhat enlightened people who share their experiences，strengths，and hopes，a group for an enlightened master？
 
 
Can you not use a fellowship of somewhat enlightened people who share their experience？』What is that？- means all the enlightened masters should get together？Is that what you meant？YesYes. It is possible. But enlightened masters are not so many，and if there are，they're busy. Because there are so many unenlightened people around the world，they have to go around and help them，not just to get together. Yes？
 
 
They are together already in spirit. They no need to be together physically. But we can，after initiation，we can practice with our fellow，enlightened practitioners and share experience and joys and the group power. And the gurus from far away even can protect，help，and bless the whole group. The group practicing is very，very useful. Therefore，Jesus said， 『When two persons sit in my name， I am with them.』That means that. Yes，group practicing had a lot of good God blessing.  Okay，good.
 
 
 
*What did you mean by 『Tao？』
 
 
Tao means 『the way.』It is a Chinese word， 『Tao，』for 『the way，』or 『the road to liberation，』or the highest wisdom in the universe，the creative force. That is Tao. 『What did you mean by when you said the ordinary mind is Tao？I didn't understand that word.』Tao is that. Yes. 『Ordinary mind』means when our mind is peaceful and calm，harmonized with all circumstances and beings. That is called 『ordinary mind.』
 
 
Actually， 『ping chang hsin，』it doesn't mean 『ordinary mind，』but because when you translate it into English，you lack this vocabulary. So，ordinary mind，『ping chang hsin，』really means 『ordinary mind，』but not this ordinary sense. It means 『peaceful mind.』You know？- already enlightened mind，very harmonious mind. That is ordinary mind.
 
 
 
*My name is Wei-sun this year，３２years，I already got the Bodhisattva route，and I am vegetarian for three years. Now I am very lucky to meet the Master. Please give me initiation and let me up.
 
 
Okay，we do that. No problem.
 
 
*What is the function of the ego？Can the ego be elevated as opposed to being cast aside？What is the relationship between our God-like nature and the seven chakras？If we are not sure whether your path is our path，can we try initiation and leave to go our own way without incurring bad feelings or karma (retribution)？
 
 
Yes，you may. I don't bind you - no condition - but I'm afraid you don't want to leave.
 
 
 
*What if we slip up and cannot keep our part of the bargain after initiation？If we take two steps back for every three or four steps forward，if we just decide another way，would you prefer us not to try to initiate？Doesn't ask for blessings of the food before eating help？Shouldn't we ask for blessing before we start eating？
 
 
It's like this: you may try our path and the God power has something to do with the seven chakras. But the chakras，if you mean the bodily chakras up to here，then it is not. I'm talking above these chakras. Yes？Most of the yogis practicing the chakras in the body and stir up the inner heat motion only.
 
 
We have two motions，two currents，in the body. One is the Sound current，the other is the heat current. The heat current takes care of the motions in the body - the digestion，the sweat，the blood，the circulation. The other currents take us up back to the Kingdom of God. Then when the yogis practice…
 
 
When you mean the sexual chakra and the anus chakra and the abdomen chakras and the solar plexus or the heart or the throat chakra，then I don't mean that. I mean above that. May you please refer to my book，『The Secret of the Wisdom Eye，』yes. I talked about different chakras，and the difference between our practice and these chakras. Yes.
 
Now，if you want to get initiation，then please be firm. You must know you want God above all things. Yes. Don't bargain with Hirm. I don't care what you do，Hes does. God is not mocked. Yes. And 『don't worship any other before Me.』And asking for bless the food:
 
 
『Doesn't asking for the blessing of the food before eating help？Even vegetables have life.』Yes，it helps. Before you eat，you should offer the food to God，or Jesus or Buddha，whomever you believe most，or Guru Nanak，to your guru，yes，and then eat it. Then the foods are more blessed，yes，and you're easier to get digestion. Of course it is good.
 
 
 
*How many paths are there to reach enlightenment？What are they？
 
 
How many paths to enlightenment？There's only one path. The Buddha said the Sound Stream method， the Light and the Sound within，will lead us to enlightenment. Jesus said the same， 『I am the Light of the world. Those who follow me won't walk in darkness.』So whoever can offer the Light，he is doing the mission of Christ. If he gives you the Light，that means he will lead you to the Light，and you won't walk in darkness，yes？ 『Enlightenment』implies Light，so if whoever can give you Light，surely you are enlightened. Okay.
 
 
 
*If it is immoral to eat meat，is it also immoral to kill animals for other purposes，such as belts or shoes，etc.？
 
 
Yes，it is. For any purpose， 『Thou shalt not kill.』 『An eye for an eye，tooth for tooth，』the ancients said it. So better we refrain from any killing may it be directly or indirectly. If we don't eat any animal food，no one will kill because he makes no profit. So if we eat meat，we're also killing indirectly.
 
 
 
*Enlightenment has always been an enigma for me. I do not understand that one will have to go through many，many more lives for further evolution in order to reach the point of communicating.
 
 
If you want to get initiation，then may I inform you that is tomorrow morning， ８o'clock at our place and we make the whole day and make a big initiation，explain everything. You don't need to take lunch; we take care of you，okay？For also free of charge. It's all free. From the Master，everything is free，and no karma (retribution) - I mean，no debt to come back; from other people，yes，from the Master power，no. Yes，how do I go about it？
 
 
Perhaps you would say， 『This person is very impatient now. She said，`I don't want to go life after life，and revolving again. So I want to get enlightenment and liberated in this life.'』So he likes，she likes that. Yes，if you are not enlightened，you are only doing business; the same everywhere. But when you are enlightened，you can even bow to any stone. You don't mind - they do theirs，you do yours，yes？Okay？
 
 
You worship only the symbol of enlightenment，not the person. So you may bow to them. As for me，never，ever bow to me in any circumstance. Don't bow to me，because this only a fleshly body. I am not this. It's only my clothes. So when you come to me，no need to bow. Don't be afraid about it. All my disciples never bow to me，except if they are ignorant，they don't know，they'd bow，and then I run，and they'd bow to an empty chair.
 
 
 
*Does Quan Yin Bodhisattva exist in the world？Chanting and praying have been seen regularly in any pagodas and temples. Are they the ways or methods to reach enlightenment？
 
 
Yes，『Quán Âm，』you mean the Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. In Aulacese (Vietnamese)，they call 『Quán Âm，』means 『Quan Yin Bodhisattva，』yes.
 
 
This person，or this saint，represents the compassionate quality of God，or of the Buddha. Yes，she does exist. Sometimes，she reincarnates in this world，takes on fleshly clothes to help other ignorant people. She does exist; she came to China many times.
 
 
Then we know who was the incarnation of Quan Yin and who was many times，over and over again. In Tibet also she incarnates sometimes. And second， 『Chanting and praying have been seen regularly in any pagoda or temple，are they the ways or methods to reach enlightenment？』
 
 
No，no. This is only a part of it. Praying and chanting is necessary to stimulate our sincerity and to help create some sincerer and clean atmosphere，but we must be silent in order to communicate with our silent God. Hes is not noisy. And we are busy every day already with our mouth，our speech，our mind，when we go to the church，we're busy again chanting and talking and telling God what to do.
 
 
So when will you think God has time for us？Or we have time for God？Yes？Have to sit in silence or even stand in silence or lie in silence and know where to find God，yes？- apart from prayers and chanting in the temple and in the pagoda，yes.
 
 
 
*When you help someone，how do you know you are not interfering with their karma (retribution) or with their lesson？Or if you keep tying someone's shoestrings，they will never learn to do it themselves. How do you know when to help and when not to help？Should you wait until they ask for help？
 
 
You see，it is like this: you don't need to tie someone else's shoestring if he can do it himself. When he can't，because he is sick，ill，then you may help. So，to interfere or not interfere，this we can't help it. Sometimes we don't want to do it，and we just do it. So the best way is to get in touch with God power，to possess Godly wisdom，and then God will direct you what to do，and then you are free of burden and responsibility. Okay？
 
 
Otherwise，in no way you can do it. Yes，only God knows. When we get in touch with our wisdom，then the wisdom will direct us every day in every affair，and we feel，and we're sure，and we're certain sometimes that we're doing it right. I have the way to show you how to do it in the right way，but this takes some time after initiation. Okay？
 
 
 
*Did you know your destiny from your earliest memories？Who was your Master？Was he in the Himalayas？
 
Yes，in the Himalayas. He's gone，went Home.
 
 
 
*If someone helps you，do you have to pay back to someone else？Or can you erase the debt by doing good to another？
 
Yes，if you can then pay back to the same person. If not，then you pay to the other in the name of goodness to all universal beings. Yes？If you need help，then ask for it and later try to repay when the time comes. Everyone needs help sometimes.
 
 
Our nature is love and compassion，as the Buddha has taught us. We have been misled life after life by our own ignorance，and the darkness of this realm has imposed pressure upon us that we forget even more. So，never have I blamed humans for forgetting to love themselves，the animals，or forgetting what they really are— that is，love. Humans are love incarnate. But it is time to remember again.
 
 
We have to be merciful and compassionate in order to beget the same quality. We have to be loving and kind to our own co-inhabitants so that we can attract loving and kind mercy from Heaven. All the masters in the past taught the same things，that we have to return to our kindness and love，which is our own nature. We can save ourselves and our loved ones. Stop killing，be loving，be compassionate，be kind.